NEOLITHIC SITES IN UPPER VALLEY OF ESSEX CAM. 59 
The rock is Middle Chalk and the nearest exposure of Boulder 
Clay is two miles to the south at Strethall. The surface soil 
on the brow of the hill is composed entirely of comminuted chalk, 
with very little humus, which passes into a clayey rain-wash 
on the lower slopes and valley bottom. The nearest water is 
the River Cam, about a half-mile distant at the nearest point. 
Abundant flakes, but traces of secondary working rare. Flakes 
of the chalk soil have a white patina, which is often glazed or 
scratched ; on the lower slopes there is a change towards the 
mottled blue patina with iron staining on the aretes. Speci¬ 
mens from this site were examined by Dr. Allen Sturge and 
described by him as being probably of Cissbury culture (3). 
The site is situated above and extending over the north end 
of the cultivation terraces (lynchetts) on the west of Coploe 
Hill. The exposed position of the site, the distance from water 
and the nature of the flakes, indicate that it is probably a site 
of manufacture only and not a site of habitation. The extension 
of flakes over the terraces of the lynchetts is significant and 
points to a possible Neolithic origin for these earthworks. 
II. Great Chesterford, Site A. Essex. Sheet II., N.E. 
Longitude o° 11' 36" E., latitude 52 0 4' 4" N. Elevation 
129 ft. O.D., about 20 feet above the level of the river. Field 
on the west of the main Cambridge road, about 700 yards N.N.W. 
of the church and about 160 yards from the last house, north 
of the village. 
The surface is level and is on a terrace of the main river valley, 
about J of a mile from the stream course. The terrace consists 
of post-glacial gravels of the Barnwellian Series. These are 
chalky gravels with interstratified sands and loam and contain 
remains of Elephas primigenius and Rhinoceros tichorhinus, 
etc. (10). The surface soil is a dark loam with much organic 
matter and contains many pot sherds and other remains of the 
Roman occupation. It varies in depth from about nine inches 
to three feet, and in pits to five feet or more. 
The Neolithic material consists of flakes, cores, scrapers, 
hammer stones, etc. The bulk of the material is unpatinated, 
black and lustrous, though occasionally blue mottled and ochreous 
flakes occur. The flakes are often very sharp and unworn, 
and occur at a considerable depth in the soil. 
